Rheumatoid arthritis

International Patient's Day with Rheumatoid Arthritis is being celebrated this Wednesday.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease whose origin is still unknown, although science suspects that the true culprits may be DNA damage or virus infections (such as parvovirus and rubella virus, for exemple).

This disease can occur at all ages, but its incidence is more frequent in young adults and postmenopausal women, with the female gender being the most affected.

 

The initial symptoms of this autoimmune disease are related to swelling of the joints of the hands and wrists, in a symmetrical pattern and proximal distribution. The patient usually presents other important complaints: fever, generalized pain, tiredness, indisposition and morning stiffness; swelling and soft tissue enlargement; Rheumatoid nodules, located under the skin, especially in areas of support.

Because it is a chronic condition, healing is still a utopia. Rheumatoid arthritis develops by outbreaks whose duration and intensity vary from case to case and always depends on a possible remission.